Menopause and Perimenopause

Perimenopause is the period in a woman’s life when her body begins the transition that results in menopause, or the cessation of monthly menses or periods. Menopause is said to be complete one full year following the last period. Both menopause and perimenopause are different for every woman, and not all women even experience symptoms. Both are natural parts of the aging process. The cause of the symptoms associated with menopause is estrogen deficiency. In the perimenopausal period, estrogen levels can fluctuate randomly, leading to confusion as to where the woman is in the process of menopause. Your doctor can assess your estrogen level and work with you to determine your need for hormone management.

Internet ResourcesMedlinePlus: MenopauseDeveloped at the National Library of Medicine specifically for health care consumers, this site is a portal for both government-sponsored and privately developed health information targeting the lay public.The Hormone FoundationThis Web site from the Endocrine Society focuses on the hormonal changes in women that result in menopause. Some of the information is available in Spanish. A very helpful table outlines the pros and cons for treating various symptoms of menopause.Books

Menopause matters: your guide to a long and healthy life. Edelman J. 2010

DatabasesThe Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database is available at all of the Health Learning Centers at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and can be searched to learn more about complementary approaches to dealing with the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause.